The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-08
JOHN REYNOLDS LESSON.
Hearth and Home.l

why blltQs OOnu.
Lima Reynolds looked up as she spoke. to
smile bravely into the face bending anxiously
over her.
Tired, Lina?" he said lifting the little
inquire as he spoke, and taking his wife like
child upon his knee what have YOU been
doing to tire you?"
"Only the days work Don't worry.
john" for shade passed over the kindly
face.
Il don't worry; but can't see what makes
you complain so often of being tired. / am
sure the Homework amt so much. Other
women do it,"
There was little fretfulness in Johns
tone, though he did not mean to be unkind
Il know they do. Mrs. Harper has four
children and takes care of them in addition
to Homework, besides doing piles of sewing.
Perhaps, John, it's because have not had
experience In country work, aud don't man
age well. / shall learn better after while
Now tell me what you did in town"
Il did quite we'll Sold the whole crop of
wheat at good price, and put another install
ment in the bank for the Stanley farm
Your heart is set on that farm, John"
Indeed it is Let me once own that, clear
OF debt, and l shall be happy man. 1t is
the best land in the country, and the house
is twice as large as this"
Lima thought Of the larger floors to scrub.
more rooms to clean, and additional work of
all kinds, and swallowed little sigh that
nearly escaped her.
John" she said, rather tImidly, don't
you think II you spent part of the money on
this house we might be very happy here9"
Spend money on this house?" cried the
astonished John. "Why, what on earth ails
this housep''
Il mean in things for it. Now, the parlor
looks so stiff and is always shut up. was
thinking If we had pretty carpet, and some
curtains of white muslin and lace, and set
OF nice furniture, and-and-a piano. o
John! IL could have pianor
John Reynolds looked at his wife as If
she had proposed to him to buy up the crown
jewels of Russia.
"a pianol DO you know what piano
costs?"
mo. Aunt Louise had one, you know,
ever since / can remember. But / think if
we had pretty parlor to rest in in the even
ing, could play for you and sing. You
never heard me play or sing, John"
Il have heard you sing. but not lately"
said John, rather gloomily.
"Oh! that was just humming around the
house. mean real singing. have lots of
music in my trunk"
"But YOU are only farmers wife now,
Lima. thought you understood when we
were married that you were not to have city
inery and pleasures"
$50 did, John. don't want fnery. 1
don't want any pleasure but your love, john
Don't scowl up your face so. am silly to
think of these at all. There, kiss me and
forget it. am rested now, and I'll get your
tea in ten minutes"
John put her down with very tender kiss,
and straightway fell into a reverie.
Lima Rivers had been a district school
teacher in Scotfeld just four months, when
John Reynolds offered her his hand and
heart. She had been an orphan from in
fancy, but her fathers sister had adopted
and educated her in life of luxury and
died without altering win made years be-
fore, leaving her entire fortune to charity
asylum. Lima, left alone, had thankfully ac-
cepted the position of country school teacher
procured her by some friends, and was think
ing life hard burden, when John came to
brighten it. She gave her whole gentle little
heart into his keeping at once, approaching
at their full value his honest, true heart. his
frank nature, his sterling good qualities, and
looking with the most profound admiration
upon his tall, strong frame and handsome
face.
1t was perfect love-match, for John fairly
worshipped the dainty, refined little beauty
he had married. And, having married her,
he took her to his home and in all ignorance
proceeded to kill her.
There was no blame to be laid upon him.
Living in the old farmhouse where he had
spent his entire life, the one ambition of his
heart was to own land, stock, barns and a
model farm. He had seen his mother cook.
churn, feed poultry and drudge all her life /;
all the women he knew did the same, and if
Lima made odd mistakes she put willing
heart into her DIRK and soon conquered its
difficulties. Surely, he thought, it was an
easier life to be mistress of his own home.
with the Stanley farm in prospect, than to
toll over stupid children In district school
He had never seen velvet carpets and lace
curtains, grand pianos, dainty silks and
other surroundings that were Lina's from
babyh0od. He had never heard the wonder
full music the little white hands, all rough
and SCARED now, could draw from the ivory
keys of an organ or piano, or the clear, pure
voice in song. 1t was an unknown world to
John where his wife's memory fingered as
she secured tins, strained milk, and cooked
huge dishes of food for the farm hands. He
wonld have thought it wicked waste, if not
positive insanity, to draw from the bank his
hard-earned savings to invest them in beau
tifying his plain, comfortable home.
And Lima lashed her conscience sharply,
telling herself she was ungrateful, repining
and wicked. Was not her John tender true
and loyingP Where among her city friends
was there heart like his? Had she not
known that he was only farmer?
And so the loving little woman toiled and
shaved, undertook tasks far beyond her
strength, worked early and late until, Just
one year after her wedding day, John Rey-
nolds coming home to his tea, ound living
upon the kitchen floor little senseless fig
ure with face like death, and hands that
sent chill to his very heart
The doctor, hastily summoned, looked
grave, and advised perfect quiet and rest. A
girl was hired and John carefully nursed the
invalid, but though she grew better she was
still pale and weak.
Take her away awhile" said the doctor.
TRY change of air. She is overworked."
But" said honest, puzzled John, "she
does nothing but the homework for us two.
She has no child, and our sewing is not
much"
The doctor looked into the troubled face
"You are good man, John Reynolds, and
strong one,' he said, will you let me tell
you few truths?"
"Yes. About Lina?"
About Lima. You remember, do you not
the tiny antelope you admired so much in the
menagerie we had here last summer"
Certainly" said John, looking more puz-
zled than ever.
Suppose you had bought that little crea-
ture and yoked it with one of your oxen to
cart, to do the same work?'
I'D have been fool" said John; shat
little thing couldn't work. 1t was just made